3.7 A Measure Of Salvation

So this second part to the previous episode followed on from where the other ended, with the discovery of the dead Cylon base ship in the nebula after it had picked up a beacon that had infected the ship and the raiders and the Cylons on it – where they had been left to die.

Once Apollo and Athena and other members of Galactica were onboard the biggest concern, for me, was whether Cylon Athena was going to get infected, too. It was certainly her concern the moment they realised there was an infection at play and got off the ship into quarantine.

As it turned out they found out the disease was not communicable to humans, and not long afterwards Athena was given the all clear. I was glad they didn’t drag that issue out, really. Instead the focus, on Galactica, was whether they could use the dying Cylons they had captured to wipe out the Cylon race.

The plan, of Apollo’s, was to jump to where the Cylons would find them. Then, when the base ships arrived en masse, with a resurrection ship nearby, they would execute the prisoners who would then be downloaded to the ship and infect the whole lot of them. (Are we saying there is only one resurrection ship now? Because they destroyed one, once! Was that it? There’s just one left? I struggle with that, but maybe it’s the way of it. And how does a biological disease get downloaded, exactly? Hmm.)

Laura was all for it. Adama was willing to go along with it. There was only Helo that was prepared to perform the ‘measure of salvation’ to prevent the mass extermination. It was certainly a dilemma for the viewer. I could see both sides; of how the Cylons had managed to create a consciousness that understood life, and therefore had moved beyond the role of ‘toasters’. But then in the same breath I could concede the view that humans created the Cylons, a mistake they made that they alone could remove and correct.

Both compelling. Ultimately I think I came down on the point of view that extermination was an acceptable proposition – given the mass genocide the Cylons performed first of all and have been chasing ever since. However, Helo intervened and killed the prisoners before they were in range of the resurrection ship so the chance was taken away.

Now Galactica have the hope that they are on the right route to Earth, but with the bitter knowledge that the Cylons are also on the same path. . .

Meanwhile, Gaius was undergoing a bizarre torture experience at the hands of Cylon Xena, whilst in his head Cylon Six was having sex with him to take his mind off things. It was all rather odd. But the net result was that Gaius wonld up crying out that he loved Cylon Xena, which appeared to have a marked effect on her. Where that’s going I don’t know.

The only other point I should note was that Starbuck was in a Viper and part of the squad out defending Galactica. From this I guess the gloomy, anxt-ridden Starbuck from the previous episode has put her issues aside enough to be allowed to continue in her military role. That all seemed brushed over way too quickly for me – but maybe it’s something that will be picked up later on and explained further. Either that or it really is over and done with, and that just leaves Tigh as the rotten soul festering away.